Multilamp photoflash package



June 20, 1967 F. D. KOTTLER MULTILAMP PHOTOFLASH PACKAGE Original FiledDec. 14, 1964 INVENTOR FRANKLIN D. KOTTLER ATTORNEYS United StatesPatent 1 Claim. 01. 240 1.3

ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A unitary, disposable, multifiash lamp unitin which a center connecting post depending from the base thereof isprovided with a plurality of radially extending lugs for cooperativeengagement with a camera socket.

This application is a division of my copending application Ser. No.417,915, filed Dec. 14, 1964. The present invention relates to flashphotography, and more particularly, to disposable multilamp photoflashpackages for use with photographic still cameras.

With the development of miniaturized photoflash lamps such as the allglass (A.G.) lamps, there is contemplated a disposable packagecontaining a plurality of such lamps and designed for simple handlingand more rapid lamp replacement after each flash exposure. In thisrespect, the present invention provides new and useful connecting meansincluding a connecting base for such disposable multilamp packages forinsertion into a suitable receiving socket forming a part of aphotographic camera or flash attachment whenever flash exposures aredesired.

An important object of the present invention resides, therefore, in theprovision of a means for connecting a disposable multilamp photoflashpackage or unit with a photographic camera or flash attachment to enablethe taking of a series of pictures with supplementing photoflash.

Another object is to provide a connecting base for such a disposablemultilamp photoflash unit which is readily connectable with a photoflashcircuit receiving socket.

These and other objects and advantages will become more apparent in thecourse of the following description, in which the accompanying drawingforms a part thereof and wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a preferred embodiment of a disposablemultilamp photoflash package according to the present invention, asinserted in the receiving socket of a photographic camera;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the photoflash package with the packagebeing removed from the camera receiving sockets; and

FIG. 3 is a partial section view taken on line 3-3 of FIG. 1.

With reference to FIGS. 1 and 2, the present invention relates to adisposable multilamp package comprising a plurality of photoflash lampsfor selective inclusion in a photographic flash circuit by rotation ofthe package about a vertical axis.

Typically, a photographic camera which may be used with a multilamppackage according to the present invention includes a housing and anobjective or picture-taking axis 11 on which the camera elements such asa lens, diaphragm aperture and a frame of light sensitive photographicfilm normally are disposed. There may also be a typical viewfinder 12and a body release member 13 used to initiate the picture-takingoperation. However, the present description will be limited to thoseelements forming a part of or cooperating directly with the presentinvention,

3,327,106 Patented June 20, 1967 the elements which are not shown herebeing understood to be selected from those known in the photographicart.

Detachably connectable with the camera for use in flash photography is adisposable multilamp photoflash package or unit 14 which comprises aplurality (four) of photoflash lamps 15 of known manufacture, such as anA.G. (all glass) variety, orthogonally disposed in a vertical positionon respective sides of a substantially square horizontal base 16 about acentral vertical axis thereof. Behind each photoflash lamp 15 is anindividual dished reflector 17 suflicient to provide the proper lightemission pattern without the need for additional reflector surfaces. Atransparent or light transmitting protective cover 18 of cubic shapehaving a top and four side walls is permanently sealed to the uppersurface of the base 16 and overlies the lamps 15 and the reflections 17.The cover 18 functions as a flash guard, while it further permits easyhandling of the multilamp unit by eliminating the need for handlingminiature or hot lamps, etc.

Each photoflash lamp 15 includes a pair of lead-in wires 19, 20extending to the interior of the hermetically sealed glass envelope ofthe respective lamp 15 in a known manner in order to ignite a charge ofcombustible material therein whenever an electrical potential is appliedto the lead-in wires. The ends of the lead-in wires 19, 20 passdownwardly through suitable openings in the base 16 and are bent attheir respective ends to form U-shaped stirrups in a manner like that ofexisting A.G. type photoflash lamps, the U-ends of the stirrups allfacing in a clockwise direction when looking at the base 16 from below.

Underlying the stirrup ends of the lead-in wires 19, 20 of each of thephotoflash lamps 15 is a curved wire support 21 extending radiallyoutwardly to the middle of the respective side of the multilamp unit 14from a central boss 22.

The base 16 further includes a depending center post 23 of cylindricalshape and four equally spaced retaining lugs 24 extending radiallyoutwardly from the post 23 at its lower end.

To provide for flash operation with a camera, the multilamp unit 14 isinserted into a camera receiving socket 25 having an opening with acentral bore and extended slots designed to receive the center post 23and lugs 24. Because each of the lugs 24 extend radially outward in adirection corresponding to the axis of light emission of one of thelamps 15, the camera socket 25 is similarly positioned so that uponinsertion of the multilamp unit into the socket 25 in any one of fourpositions as determined by the position of extended slots, one of thephotoflash lamps 15 will be facing forward, i.e. in the direction of theobjective axis 11. Correspondingly, exposed contact terminals 27, 28 ofa suitable photoflash circuit in the housing 10 are positioned in frontof the receiving socket 25 such that electrical contact is made betweenthe terminals 27, 28 and the respective lead-in wires 19, 20 of theforward facing photoflash lamp 15. The photoflash circuit, designed toignite the in-circuit lamp in timed relationship with camera shutteroperation, may of course be any suitable construction.

Referring to FIG. 3, a suitable camera socket may include spring means,generally shown by 26, acting on opposing retaining lugs 24 by virtue ofa bias in the direction of the arrows. To provide for a flexibleconnection, each retaining lug 24 is shaped to include upper and lowerramped surfaces 29, 30. The lower ramped surfaces 30 of the opposingfront and back lugs 24 tend to urge the spring means 26 outwardlyagainst the bias as the package 14 is inserted. When the package 14 isinserted sufliciently, the spring means 26 return by virtue of the biasover the upper ramped surfaces 27 of the opposing lugs 24. By reason ofthe acting force on the upper ramped surfaces 29 of the opposing lugs24, the package 14 is urged downwardly to achieve a firm contact betweenterminals 27, 28

and the lead-in wires 19, 20 of the forward facing photoflash lamp 15.

In operation, the base post 23 of a disposable multilamp photoflash unit14 is inserted into the socket 25, with one of the unused photoflashlamps 15 facing forward, until the spring means 26 overrides the lugs 24to retain the package 14 in the socket 25. The camera is otherwise madeready for operation, and a photographic picture with augmenting flash isthen taken by depressing the body release 13 to operate the shutter andignite the forward facing photoflash lamp 15 in timed relationshiptherewith by the photoflash circuit. After the flash picture is taken,the multilamp unit 14 is rotated in a clockwise direction about its axisof rotation represented by center post 23, until the next succeedingphotoflash lamp 15 is facing forward with its corresponding lead-inwires 19, 20 engaging the terminals 27, 28.

Upon completion of the taking of four successive flash pictures in themanner described, the used multilamp unit 14 can be removed by pullingthe unit 14 upwardly out of the socket 25. During the upward movement,the upper ramped surfaces 29 push the spring means 26 apart to releasethe lugs 24 and permit the unit 14 to be removed. Of course, the unit 14can be removed after the taking of any number of one or more flashpictures in order to take daylight pictures, and the unit reinsertedwith one of the remaining unused photoflash lamps 15 facing forward.

While this invention has been described with reference to a preferredembodiment, it is obvious that minor variations and changes can beresorted to without departing from the spirit of the invention or thescope of the subjoined claim.

I claim: A unitary disposable multiflash lamp unit comprising: ahorizontal base support; a center connecting post depending from belowthe base 5 support about a central axis of rotation thereof;

a plurality of photoflash lamps permanently mounted in a verticalposition on the base support about the axis of rotation, each photoflashlamp including leadin wires extending through the base support forselecelectric terminals of the flash circuit of a photoflash device;

reflector means on the base support to direct light from each of thelamps along a selected line of emission;

15 a protective light transmitting cover overlying the lamps andreflector means; and

a plurality of radially extending lugs attached to the connecting postadjacent the lower end thereof to retain the base support in aphotoflash device in a 20 selected one of a predetermined number ofpositions of rotation with the lead-in wires of a selected one of thephotoflash lamps engaging the terminals to fire the selected photoflashlamp, each of said lugs including upper and lower ramped surfaces forreleasable engagement with spring means in the photoflash device.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,087,318 4/1963 Oswold 240 -1.3X 0 3,096,025 7/1963 Prochnow 240-1.3 3,244,087 4/1966 Anderson 9511JOHN M. HORAN, Primary Examiner.

tive engagement from below the base support with

